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There are already an array of burgeoning E-book technologies vying for position in the new order of publishing.
These are just a few with their key features - watch out for new ones.
This concept tries to emulate the portability of the standard paper book. The device is about the size of a large paperback and is powered by
batteries with a large LCD screen.
"Books" are bought on-line from the book store and then downloaded to the reader where they can be browsed and used just like an ordinary book - but with the E-book advantages of being able to annotate, hyperlink etc.
Other features of this class of E-book is their compactness. The physical size may be about the same as an ordinary book,
but you can pack 10 books worth into one reader making it extraordinarily convenient. In addition, the book store keeps track of all the books you have bought and allows you to
download again if you "lose" the book or need to overwrite one to load another and then need it back again. Think of it as your own library which resides in the bookstore - you just have your
current ten most relevant on the reader at any one time and can "check-in" or out any title you want at any time. Maybe publishers will just update an existing edition of a standard text
rather than forcing you to buy the whole thing over again as is necessary with a paper copy.
Loading is done via a PC but the future will see mobile devices being serviced over wireless
links. The units cost about $200-$500, weigh about 12 ounces and the battery lasts about 18 hours.
One thought from Steve Silberstein of Innovative - "China is building 1,000 universities - will
they build 1,000 university libraries? Or give every student an E-book and access to a virtual library" You don't have to be a genius to work out the economics of that one.
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